Understanding Common Error Messages

To help you figure out what Windows is trying to tell you, here's a list of the most common Windows-specific messages you're likely to encounter. The messages are listed in alphabetical order, along with the most probable cause(s) of the message.

A fatal exception <XY> has occurred at xxxx:xxxxxxxx

Windows does not cause these fatal exception errors; these messages are just Windows' way of reporting a problem encountered by your system's microprocessor, often caused by faulty or mishandled RAM. In many cases, a fatal exception error will freeze or crash your entire system, and you'll have to reboot to continue.

tip

The best place to look up Windows-related error messages is in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. You can access the Knowledge Base from Microsoft's main support page (support.microsoft.com).

This error is typically caused by a software bug that causes two drivers (or applications) to try to use the same area of memory. After you get past the error message (and close one of the applications in question), you probably won't see the error again; it's an intermittent thing.

If the error message repeats, you'll need to try to track down which applications or drivers are causing the problem, and then contact the appropriate manufacturers for more detailed technical support.

Abnormal termination

This message occurs when a Windows application crashes unexpectedly, most often due to memory problems. Sometimes this kind of program crash will also crash Windows itself.

Another application is using communication port

You are running two programs that are both trying to access a single communication port, such as two communications programs. Close one of the two programs to avoid the current conflict.

Application execution error: Cannot find file. Check to ensure path and filename are correct

This message results when Windows tries to load a program that either doesn't exist or isn't located where Windows thinks it is. If this message appears when you start Windows, it means you have an incorrect file inserted in your Startup folder. Check all the programs in this folder to make sure the filename and path are correct.

Application execution error: No association exists for this file

You receive this message if no program file is associated with a data file you're trying to launch. To associate a program file with a file type, open the Control Panel and launch the Folder Options utility. When the Folder Options dialog box appears, select the File Types tab. Add a new file type by clicking the New Type button and filling in the blanks in the Add New File Type dialog box.

Application is still active

You're trying to exit Windows while an application is still running. Close the program and then exit Windows.

Call to undefined dynalink

This message results when a Windows program tries to use an incompatible DLL file. You'll probably need to wipe the program from your hard disk and reinstall it from scratch. It's also possible that an old printer driver can cause this problem. The solution is similar; erase the old driver and install an updated version.

Cannot communicate with modem

For some reason, Windows cannot access your modem. Check all connections and setup configurations to make sure that your modem is working and properly set up.

Cannot copy file

For some reason (generally something wrong with either the original or the destination disk) the current file cannot be copied. If you encounter this message when installing Windows, try to continue without copying the file. If the problem is that you don't have enough free space on the destination disk, you'll need to rethink the copy operation or free up some space before you retry the copy.

Cannot find a device file that may be needed

This message is typically followed by a filename (often with the .VXD extension), and indicates that a virtual device driver (VXD) file is missing or corrupted. If you've recently installed a new device or program, uninstall it and then reinstall it; if the problem persists, you might need to obtain a new or updated version of the driver file.

Cannot find the file "XXX" or one of its components

The most common cause for this message is that the file in question is either missing or corrupted. Click the Start button and select Find to search for the file. Reinstall the program in question if necessary.

Cannot format disk

Windows generates this message when you try to format a disk that is write-protected. Change disks or slide the write-protect tab into the down position.

This message can also appear when you're trying to use a damaged disk, or if the disk contains a virus. If either of these are the case, you probably want to throw away this particular disk and start again with a new one.

Cannot print. SoftRIP error.

Some printers print an entire page as a graphic image, forming that image in memory before printing. If your system doesn't have enough memory, this message is generated. Close any other open applications to free up additional memory.

Cannot read from drive x

Windows is looking for a file on drive x:. If no disk is in drive x:, insert any disk to end the Windows look loop. If a disk is already in drive x:, you either have a bad (or unformatted) disk, or a bad disk drive. If the message refers to drive C: (your hard disk), your hard disk is going bad.

Cannot replace xxxx: Access Denied.

A common cause of this message is if you tried to copy a file to a write-protected disk or to a drive that doesn't have a disk inserted. Make sure the disk is inserted correctly before you resume the operation or change the disk's write-protect status.

Another cause of this problem is when the file you're trying to copy (or save) is marked as read-only. Reconfigure the file's status before retrying the operation.

In addition, this message can be generated if you try to access a file that is in use by another application or, on a network, by another user.

Cannot run program No application is associated with this file

If no program file is associated with a document you're trying to launch, you receive this message. To associate a program file with a file type, open the Control Panel and launch the Folder Options utility. When the Folder Options dialog box appears, select the File Types tab. Add a new file type by clicking the New Type button and filling in the blanks in the Add New File Type dialog box.

Cannot run program Out of system resources

Resources include system memory as well as space taken by everything you see on your screen icons, fonts, dialog boxes, and so on. When too much is going on at one time, Windows runs out of resources. Try closing any open programs or simplifying your screen in any way minimizing windows, closing dialog boxes, and so on.

Cannot start application

Windows cannot start the desired application. Check to make sure the correct directory path and filename was specified. It's also possible that sufficient memory was not available to run this application.

Cannot start more than one copy of xxx

Some programs cannot be loaded twice in Windows. If a program is already running, avoid starting a second instance of the program.

Could not print page x

Windows could not print a particular page in your printout. This is often due to low memory or insufficient disk space to print a page with lots of graphics. Try printing this page at a lower resolution.

Dangerously low on system resources

Windows is running low on system memory which you've probably already noticed by the increasingly sluggish performance of your system. With Windows 9X/Me, this is sometimes caused by the operating system not releasing the entire amount of memory used when you close a program. (It's called a memory leak, if you're interested.) The more programs you open and closed, the more unreleased memory you have and the more likely it is you'll see this error message.

The only way to release unreleased memory is to reboot your computer. Fortunately, this problem is minimized (if not completely eliminated) with Windows XP.

Deleting this file will make it impossible to run this program

This message appears when you try to delete a program file. Make sure you really want to delete this program before you proceed.

Destination disk drive is full

You receive this message when you're trying to copy data to a disk that has run out of free space. Either delete files from the disk or use another disk that has more free space.

Disk error

If Windows generates a disk error message, it's normally because you're trying to use a bad or unformatted disk. If you receive a disk error message while reading or writing from a disk, try another disk. If you receive this error message regarding your hard disk, it's possible that it is starting to fail. Run ScanDisk to find any hard disk errors, and consider replacing your hard disk (after you've backed up your critical data, of course).

Divide by zero

This message generally results from software bugs. When it occurs, close Windows, reboot your computer, and then restart Windows and the problem application. If this message occurs with frequency, consult the publisher of the software.

Drive x: is inaccessible

This message is displayed when a specified drive can't be accessed. Make sure you actually have a disk correctly inserted in the drive and that the disk is formatted. If the drive does exist, there might be a problem with your Windows setup.

Explorer caused a fatal exception xxxxxxx in module KERNEL32.DLL at xxxx:xxxxxxxx

This message is displayed when either Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer (they both use the same base code) has misbehaved. If you receive this error frequently, try upgrading to a newer version of Internet Explorer (which upgrades all the underlying code).

Another cause of this message is a damaged Control Panel file (.CPL extension). You may need to repair or reinstall Windows to get the error message to go away.

Extremely low on memory, close applications and try again

This message results when your system doesn't have enough memory to run the application or perform the operation you specified. Just like the message suggests, close some applications and try the operation again. You might also need to exit Windows (to free up some unreleased memory), restart Windows, and then run the application or perform the operation.

This message can also be caused when you have too little free space left on your hard disk. (Windows uses your hard disk for virtual memory; too little hard disk space equals too little virtual memory.) Try deleting unnecessary files to free up hard disk space.

File already exists. Overwrite?

You're trying to create or save a file with a name that already exists. Windows is asking if you want to overwrite the existing file. If so, answer yes. If no, answer no and assign a new name to your file.

File not found

If you get this message when Windows is loading, the likely culprit is a corrupt or missing driver or program file. The problem can be fixed if you know which file is missing; sometimes the message tells you what is missing, sometimes it doesn't. If you can track down the missing or corrupt file, you can either reinstall it or delete its reference from the Windows startup routine.

There are several places where Windows specifies which drivers to load:

• Startup folder, accessible by clicking Start, All Programs, Startup

• WIN.INI file, used by many older programs (but few newer ones)

• Windows Registry, under the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Oftentimes this error message occurs when you've deleted a program from your system but not the reference to load the program. If you can find the reference in one of these places, you can delete it.

General protection fault

The general protection fault (GPF) is a very common type of error message under Windows 9X/Me. It indicates that there is a problem with a specific software program, or that you need to update a device driver. If you can't figure out the cause of the GPF, run Dr. Watson to track it down for you.

note

The predecessor to the GPF in earlier versions of Windows was the UAE (unrecoverable application error).

Illegal operation

This message is similar to the fatal exception error, the result of two drivers (or applications) trying to use the same area of memory. After you get past the error message (and close one of the applications in question), you probably won't see the error again; it's an intermittent thing. If the error message repeats, you'll need to try to track down which applications or drivers are causing the problem, and then contact the appropriate manufacturers for more detailed technical support.

Insufficient disk space

Your system is short on hard disk space. Try deleting some unneeded files and then restarting the operation at hand.

Insufficient memory to run this application

You're trying to launch a program but don't have enough free system memory to do so. Try closing down any open applications before relaunching the new application; if this message occurs again, reboot your system to clear up memory clogs.

Invalid destination specified

Windows displays this message when you try to copy a file to a folder or drive that doesn't exist. Check your commands and try this operation again.

Invalid page fault

This message is similar to the fatal exception error, typically the result of two drivers (or applications) trying to use the same area of memory. After you get past the error message (and close one of the applications in question), you probably won't see the error again; it's an intermittent thing.

This message is also generated when you run low on RAM, or when your system's virtual memory becomes unstable due to a shortage of free disk space. If the message persists, reboot your PC to release any memory leaks and, if necessary, delete unnecessary files from your hard disk to free up some disk space.

Invalid VxD Dynamic Link Call

This message is generated when a device driver is either missing, corrupted, or incompatible with your version of Windows. If you recently installed a new device or program, try uninstalling and reinstalling it to fix the driver file. If the problem continues, contact the manufacturer of the problem device for an updated driver file.

The problem that causes this message can sometimes stop Windows from loading. If so, you'll need to restart in Safe mode to remove the device.

Invalid system disk, replace the disk, and then press any key

This message appears when you've tried to start your system with a non-bootable disk in your A: drive. Remove the disk and press any key to continue.

Keyboard error. Press F1 to continue

This error is generated when your computer can't find a keyboard attached to your system during startup or if one of your keys is stuck. Make sure your keyboard is connected (and the keys unstuck) and then reboot with the power button/switch on your system unit. (Because your keyboard is recognized, you actually can't press F1 to continue!)

No association exists for this file

If no program file is associated with a data file you're trying to launch, you'll receive this message. To associate a program file with a file type, open the Control Panel and launch the Folder Options utility. When the Folder Options dialog box appears, select the File Types tab. Add a new file type by clicking the New Type button and filling in the blanks in the Add New File Type dialog box.

No COM ports available

You're trying to add a new device to your Windows and all of your COM ports are filled. You'll need to uninstall one of your current devices before you can add the new device.

Not a valid filename

You typed an invalid filename for a file operation. Remove any illegal characters from the filename. See "This filename is not valid" later in this chapter for a list of characters you can't use in filenames.

Not enough disk space

There isn't enough free space on the current disk to continue with the operation. Delete some files and try again.

Not enough memory

This error occurs when you try to launch an application but your system is low on available memory. Here are some solutions to try:

• Close any open applications including background utilities and then restart the latest program. The more applications you have open, the less system memory you have available for additional applications.

• Close all applications, exit Windows, and restart your computer. Sometimes Windows applications don't free up all their memory when they close. This memory "leakage" can build up over time and drain your system resources. Exiting and relaunching Windows frees up this stolen memory.

• Free up extra disk space on your system. You can do this by emptying the Recycle Bin or deleting unused files or applications. Because Windows uses extra disk space as virtual memory, having too little disk space free can result in insufficient memory problems.

Open With

Windows displays this message when you try to open a document and there is no file type associated. Choose a program to open the file with from the list in the dialog box, or click the Browse button to choose from other programs on your system.

Out of memory

Windows has trouble running under low memory conditions. When this message is generated, try closing some open applications to free up memory space. If Windows continues to generate this message, exit Windows and reboot your system to free up any unreleased memory.

Parity error

This message most often results when something is wrong with your system memory. It's also possible that a power supply problem can cause this message. Whatever the cause, rebooting your system and restarting Windows generally clears things up.

If this message appears with some degree of regularity, you might have a defective memory chip or some sort of mismatch between old memory and newly installed memory. In any case, you may need to replace your system memory.

Print queue is still active

You're trying to exit Windows while a print job is still in progress. Either finish or cancel the print job before you try exiting again.

Rundll32.exe has performed an illegal operation

The error message is caused by a problem with your modem driver. You might need to uninstall and then reinstall your modem to continue.

Sector not found reading drive X

Windows encountered a problem reading one of your drives, most probably due to a bad sector on the disk. If the drive is your hard drive, you might be developing a serious hard drive failure. Call a computer technician for advice.

Setup detects that an earlier version of SetupX.dll or NetDi.dll is in use

While installing a new version of Windows, you have one or more applications open. Close the open applications and then continue with your installation.

Setup cannot create files on your startup drive and cannot set up Windows. There may be too many files in the root directory of your startup drive, or your startup drive letter may have been remapped (SU0018)

This is an odd problem you might encounter while installing Windows. The root folder of a drive holds a maximum of 512 files and/or folders, and your root folder apparently contains more files/folders than this. Move or delete some files to continue the installation.

Setup could not back up your system files

You're trying to install a new version of Windows, but your hard drive does not have enough free space to back up the previous system files. Because you need up to 75MB or more free space to continue, try deleting as many files as you can.

System Error

When some piece of hardware in your system stops working, this message is generated. You'll see it often when something is wrong with your disk drives like you're using an unformatted disk or you forgot to close the disk drive door. Cancel out and fix your problem before retrying the operation.

The file or folder that this shortcut refers to cannot be found

When you see this message, it means that the file associated with this shortcut has been moved or deleted. If the file's location has changed, right-click the shortcut icon, select Properties from the pop-up menu, select the Shortcut tab when the Properties dialog box appears, and enter a new location in the Target box. If the file has been deleted, delete the shortcut by dragging the shortcut icon into the Recycle Bin.

The network could not validate your user name

This message is generated when you are starting up Windows on a network, or when you are logging on to the network after another user has logged off, and tells you that either the username or password you entered was incorrect. Check both and try logging in again. If you're sure you entered the correct information, contact your network's administrator for assistance.

You should also check the Ethernet cable running from your PC to your network hub. Make sure it's still connected and that the link light is working.

The printer on LPT1 is offline or not selected

This message appears when your printer is not ready to print. It might be offline or out of paper. Check your printer and click the Retry button to resume the print job.

There was an error writing to LPT1:

This message appears when something is wrong with your printer or your printer setup. Here are some possible solutions to the problem:

• Make sure your printer is actually turned on and is online.

• Make sure you have paper in your printer. If not, refill your paper tray.

• Check your printer for paper jams.

• Double-check all cable connections; make sure both ends of the printer cable are securely fastened.

If these simple solutions don't fix your problem, check your printer configuration.

This filename is not valid

This message appears when you type an illegal name for a filename. An illegal name would include characters that you can't use for filenames. Remove any illegal characters from the filename and save the file again.

caution

The following characters (called "illegal" characters) cannot be used to name a file in Windows: / \ * | < > ? " :

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

This message appears when a program has ceased proper operation, for whatever reason (typically untraceable). Click the Close button to close the offending program.

The system has recovered from a serious error

This is a new error message in Windows XP that is displayed after you've had a program crash. (In Windows XP in most cases a program crash doesn't crash the entire operating system.) The message goes on to tell you that a log of this error has been created, and then prompts you to "please tell Microsoft about this problem." If you click the Send Error Report button, your computer will connect to the Internet and send the aforementioned error report to Microsoft. You also have the option to not send the report.

What happens when you click the Send Error Report button? Well, you can see for yourself by clicking the "To see what data this error report contains, click here" link. Windows will now display a totally incomprehensible collection of technical information that doesn't tell you diddly squat.

The big concern, of course, is how much of this information is technical and how much is personal; most users don't want to send Microsoft any more personal data than they absolutely have to. Microsoft says that they don't intentionally collect your name, address, email address, or any other personal information however, the error report itself might include data files that contain this type of information.

So, should you send the error report? I'd recommend not, as you don't directly benefit from it; Microsoft uses this information for future bug fixes, not to help you with your specific problem. Just click the Don't Send button and continue with whatever you were doing before the message appeared.

By the way, if you get this message every time you turn on your PC, you need to update your version of Windows XP with Service Pack 1. This is a bug in the original Windows XP code that affects a small number of systems, and was fixed by Microsoft in SP1.

Unmountable boot volume

This message is generated when certain Windows XP files become garbled, making your hard disk inaccessible. The solution is to use XP's new Recovery Console utility to repair the installation. Follow these steps:

1. Reboot your computer using the Windows installation CD.

2. When you see the Welcome to Setup screen, press the R key on your keyboard to start the Recovery Console.

3. You're now presented with a command prompt. Enter chkdsk and press Enter.

4. Enter exit and press Enter to quit the Recovery Console and restart your computer.

If this doesn't fix the problem, restart the Recovery Console and run the chkdsk /r command.

Windows protection error

This error typically occurs when your computer attempts to load or unload a problematic virtual device driver (VXD). In most cases, the problematic driver is mentioned in the error message; in other cases, however, you'll have no clue as to what is causing the problem.

If you can track down the driver causing the problem, you can usually fix things by reinstalling or updating the driver, repairing any damaged Registry entries, or eliminating any driver conflicts.

Windows Setup was unable to update your system files

You might see this message if you're trying to install (or reinstall) Windows and you're running antivirus software. This can also be caused if you have "Boot Sector Protect" enabled in your systems CMOS BIOS settings; check your BIOS on system startup to disable this setting.

Windows was not properly shut down

On a pre-Windows XP system, this message is displayed the next time you restart your computer after you've improperly exited Windows. (Windows then proceeds to run ScanDisk to search for any disk errors resulting from the improper shutdown.) Remember to shut down Windows properly next time by clicking the Start button, selecting Shut Down, and when the Shut Down Windows dialog box appears selecting the Shut Down the Computer? option.

Write protected disk

You're trying to perform a file operation on a disk that is write protected. Change disks, or slide the write-protect tab into the down position.

X:/ is not accessible. The device is not ready

This message appears when a disk drive is not yet ready; the X represents the drive with the problem. If the problem is with a disk, CD-ROM, or DVD drive, insert the proper diskette or disc in the drive. If the problem is with a hard disk drive, you might have some major problems with your system; consult a technician for more information.

You'll also see this message if you insert a CD into your PC and then try to explore it via My Computer before Windows has had a chance to recognize the disc. Just hold your horses until all the lights quit blinking, and then go ahead and access the disc.

You cannot format the current drive

You're trying to format a disk that is write-protected. Change disks or slide the write-protect tab into the down position.

THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM

Well, that's all there is. I hope you've enjoyed this book, and picked up some useful information and advice about upgrading and fixing your PC. As to the information in this chapter, keep these points in mind:

• Windows generates error messages when it encounters most common (and uncommon!) problems.

• When you receive an error message, read it carefully and write it down then proceed as instructed.

• Unfortunately, you might never find out the exact cause of any error message you might receive; sometimes the best way to deal with an error message is to figure out the best workaround.